Electric cigar-lighting apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. W. POSTER. ELECTRIC GIGAR LIGHTINGAPPARATUS.

No. 463,384. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-#Sheet 2.

W. W. FOSTER. ELECTRIC GIGAB. LIGHTING MPM-MIIs.v 110.463,384. PatentedNov. 17,1891.

IUNITED y STATES jATENT FFI-CE.

ELECTRIC CIGAR-LIGHTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,384, dated November17, 1891.

Application filed August 14, 1891. Serial No. 402,639. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. FOSTER, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Cigar- Lighting Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

. This invention has for its object to provideL means for utilizing acontinuous spark, such las is produced by the action of an inductioncoilfor igniting alcohol or other inflammable material, and particularly toproduce a cigarlighting apparatus comprising means for producing acontinuous spark, and a movable torch which is alternately immersed inalcohol or otheriniiammable fluid and moved into position to be acted onby the spark when the latter is formed, the sparkigniting the alcohol.

The invention consists in the improve- Vments which I will now proceedto describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification,Figure l represents a top plan view of a cigar-lighting apparatusembodying my invention, the electrical connections being shown indiagram.l Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the apparatus shown Inthe drawings, a represents a supporting frame or base, to which issuitably aliixed a tank b, adapted to contain alcohol or other suitableinaminable liquid.

c c represent two electrodes, each afixed at one end of the base a, thefree ends or terminals of said electrodes being in such proximity toeach other that a continuous sparksuch as is produced by the action ofan induction or Ruhmkorff coil-will pass freely from one of saidterminals to the other.

- d represents a shaft mounted in suitable bearings in the base a andadapted to be rocked or oscillated by means of a crank or handle d.

c yrepresents another shaft, journaled in bearings on the base a andarranged parallel Fig. 5 represents perspective viewsl with the shaft d.To the shaft e is affixed an arm f', the outer end of which carriesatorch f, vwhichis adapted to be immersed in the liquid in the tank b bya movement of the shaft e in one direction. Said torch may be of anysuitable construction, and is preferably composed of a block 5, of hardrubberor other insulating material, provided, with intersecting slots6.6, and strips ot asbestus wound about the arms or divisions into whichthe block 5 is converted by said slots 6, the block being attached Y tothe arm f. The object of this construction is to present a considerablequantity of absorbent refractory material to the spark that is formedbetween the electrodes c c', as hereinafter described, without makingthe torch of a material or materials which will conduct electricity. Inthis case the asbestus constitutes the absorbent refractory material andthe insulating-block 5 constitutes a non-conducting support or holderfor said absorbent material. Vhen the shaft e is held in its normalposition by the action of a springe', attached at one end to the shaft eand at theother end to Vthe base u., the torch f stands in suchproximity to the terminals of the electrodes c c that the alcoholcarried by the torch will be ignited when a spark is formed between saidelectrodes, the shaft being adapted to move from its normal position farenough to permit the torch to enter the tank l), as indicated in'Fig. 3.

Means are provided for moving the shaft c to insert the torch in thetank and for releasing said shaft to permit the spring cto throw thetorch to its normal position. Means. are also provided for closing aprimary electric circuit before the release of the torch and forbreaking said circuit after the torch has sprung back to its normalposition, the circuit being connected with a secondary or inducedcircuit, including an induction-coil and the electrodes c c', thearrangement being such that upon the closing of the primary circuit theinduced current in the secondary circuit is caused by the well-knownaction of the induction-coil to form a continuous spark between theterminals of the electrodes c c of sufficient duration to ignite thetorch, the latter being at this time in close proximity to the spark, sothat the alcohol contained in the torch will be vaporizcd and ignited bythe heat of the spark.

In Fig. 1 I show a diagram of the electrical connections, in which theprimary circuit includes a battery 7, a wire S, extending from one poleof the battery through a bindingpost 9 to a contact-spring 10, attachedto the base d, another wire 12, extending through the primary of aRuhnikorff orinduction coil 13 and binding-post 14. to a movablecontactspring 15, which is attached to the base d, and is adapted tomake contactwith and be separated from the contact-spring 10, saidspring 15 being normally separated from the spring 10, sorthat theprimary circuit is normally broken. The secondary circuit includes awire I6, extending from one end of t-he secondary of the coil 13 througha binding-post 17 to the electrode c, and another wire 18, extendingfrom the other end of the secondary of the coil 13 through abinding-post- 19 to the electrode c.

The best means known to me for forcing the torch into the alcohol andthen releasing it, and for closing and breaking the primary circuit,comprise the shaft d, the arm d2 on said shaft, an arm e2 on the shafte, adapted to cooperatewith the arm (Z2, as presently described, whensaid arm-d2 is moved forward from its normal position, (shown in Figs. 1and 2,) a spring d3, adapted to return the shaft CZ and arm d2 totheir-normal position, and a cam d'1, of

insulating material, afliXed to the shaft d and located over thecontact-springl5, said ealn being formed to depress the spring l5 andclose the primary circuit when the shaft d is moved from its normalposition, said cam releasing the spring 15 and breaking the primarycircuit when the shaft d returns to its normal position. The arm d2 isprovided at its swinging end with a finger d5, the forward end of whichis arranged to strike the outer end of the arm e2 on the shaft e whenthe arm d2 is moved forward. The contact of the finger d5 with the armc2 causes the shaft e to swing over `and insert the torch in the tank b,as shown in4 Fig. 3.

The operation is as follows: Then it is desired to ignite the torch, theoperator grasps the handle of the crank d. and turns the same so as tomake the arm d2 move in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.When the finger (Z5 of the arm d2 reaches the arm e2 of thetorch-carrying shaft e, said shaft is rotated in the same direction andthe torch is thrown forward and downward int-o the tank. rPhe movementof the shaft d, involved in throwing the torch into the tank, causes theinsulating-cam d* to depress the contactspring 15 and close the primarycircuit, thereby inducing a current in the secondary circuit by theaction of the coil 13, in a manner well understood by those skilled inthe art. The finger d5 is formed so that when the arm d2 is in theposition shown in Fig. 3 the inner or under side of said finger, whichis formed on the are of a circle, is substantially concentric with theshaft e, so that when the point of the finger di is carried outside ofthe radius of the arm e2 by a continuation of the forward movement ofthe arm d2 the arm e2 will remain in the position shown in Fig. 3 untilthe heel or rear end of the nger d5 passes below the point of said arm,and when this occurs the arm e2 is released and returned to its normalposition by the spring e,while the circuit is closed and the spark ispassing from one electrode to the other. The object of this constructionis to release the torch and permit it to pass into suitable proximity tothe electrodes before the primary circuit is broken by the backwardmovement of the shaft CZ, thus insuring the ignition of the alcohol bythe spark. The operator then releases the crank d', whereupon the springd3 returns the shaft tl, arm d2, and cam clito their non mal position,the primary circuit being broken by the movement of the cam d", so thatthe spark ceases to pass between the electrodes. I have found that thecontinuous spark, such as is formed by the action of a Ruhm kort'f orinduction coil, is particularly adapted to igniting alcohol or otherlike inflammable matter, because of the intensity of the heat producedby said spark, so that a cigar-lighting apparatus provided with meansfor producing a continuous spark,as above described, is much morereliable than apparatuses for the same purpose in which a spark iscaused by the separation of two electrodes. I do not limit myself,however, to the use of a Ruhmkorif or induction coil, as a continuousspark may be produced by the use of an alternating current generated inany suitable manner.

To prevent evaporation of the alcohol in the tank I provide the openingthrough which said torch enters the tank with a sliding door b', whichis engaged with an arm e4 on the shaft e, said arm beingarranged so thatwhen the shaft e is moved to insert the torch in the tank the door bwill be displaced so as to uncover the opening for the admission of thetorch, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of the sliding door is providedwith an offset b2, having three sides, the outer end of the arm eALplaying between the sides of said offset, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3,and 4, so that. when the shaft c is rotated in one direction to throwthe torch in to the tank the door is opened, and

when the shaft e is rotated in the opposite ldirection to elevate thetorch the door is closed.

I prefer to inclose the described mechanism by a cover s, which may beof sheet metal or other suitable material, formed to tit upon the basect, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, said cover having an aperture ats directly over the torch when the latter is in itsnormal position.

I do not limit my invention to apparatuses for lighting cigars, as theprinciple herein described may be applied to the ignition of fuel orcombustible material for various other purposes.

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I claim- 1. The combination of two fixed electrodes, means for producinga continuous spark between said electrodes, and a movable torch or fuelcarrier adapted to occupy such positionforth.

2. The combination of two electrodes, means for producing a continuousspark between said electrodes, a fuel-reservoir, and a swinging torchadapted to oscillate between said .reservoir and electrodes, said torchbeing in the reservoir when at one extreme of its movement and inoperative proximity to the electrodes when at the other extreme o f itsmovements, asset forth.

3. The combination of two electrodes, a fuel-reservoir, a swinging torchadapted to oscillate between said reservoir and electrodes, means foroscillating said torch to throw it alternately into the reservoir andbetween the electrodes, an electric circuit including said electrodes,means for forming a continuous spark, and a circuit breaking and closingdevice arranged to be operated by the mechanism that moves the torch,the circuit being closedwhen the torch is moved away from the electrodesand broken after the return of the torch to the electrodes, as setforth.

4. The combination of two electrodes, a fuel-reservoir, a swinging torchadapted to oscillate between said reservoir and electrodes, means foroscillating said torch to throw it alternately into the reservoir andbetween the electrodes, a primary electric circuit including the primaryof an inductioncoil, and a circuit closing vand breaking device, thelatter being operated to close the primary circuit when the torch ismoved away from the electrodes and to break said circuit after the torchhas returned to the electrodes, and a secondary circuit including thesaid electrodes and the secondary of the induction-coil, whereby acontinuous spark is produced between the electrodes when the primarycircuit is closed, as set forth.

5. The combination of two electrodes, a fuel-reservoir, a swinging torchadapted to oscillate between said reservoir and electrodes, a rock-shaftsupporting said torch and provided with a spring which normally holdsthe torch between the-electrodes, another rock-shaft having an arm, acrank or handle, a circuit breaking and closing cam, and a spring whichnormally holds the shaft and cam in the circuit-breaking position of thelatter, said arm being formed to engage an arm on the torch-carryingshaft and rst move and then release the torch, a primary electriccircuit including a movable contactspring and a contact-piececo-operating therewith in closing the said circuit, said spring beingnormally in position to break the circuit and arranged to be moved bysaid cam to close the circuit, the primary of an induction-coil includedin said circuit, and a secondary circuit including the two electrodesand the secondary of the induction-coil, all arranged and operatingsubstantially as set forth.

6. The combination of two electrodes, a fuel-reservoir, a swinging torchadapted to oscillate between said reservoir and electrodes, a rock-shafte, supporting said torch and provided with a spring which normally holdsthe torch between the electrodes and with an arm e2, and anotherrock-shaft d, having a crank or handle, a spring impelling saidrock-shaft in one direction, and an arm cl2, formed to engage the saidarm e2 when the rock-shaft d is turned against the pressure of itsspring, said arm cl2 being constructed to first depress and thenreleasethe arm e2, as set forth.

7. The combination of two electrodes, a fuel-reservoir,I a swingingtorch adapted to osci-llate between said reservoir and electrodes, arock-shaft c, supporting said torch and provided with a spring whichnormally holds the torch between the electrodes and with an arm e2,another rock-shaft cl, having a crank or handle, a spring impelling saidrock-shaft in one direction, andan arm (Z2, formed to engage the saidarm e2 when the rock-shaft CZ is turned against the pressure of itsspring, said arm d2 being constructed to first depress and then releasethe arm, a slide or door formed to cover the opening through which'thetorch enters the tank, and an arm e4, affixed to the shaft e and engagedwith said slide, said arm and slide being arranged so that the arm holdsthe slide in its closed position when the torch is between theelectrodes and in its opened position when the torch is in position toenter the reservoir, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification, inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of August; A. D.1891.

-WILLIAM w. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON.

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